Software:Darklight Conflict

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Darklight Conflict
Developer(s)Rage Software
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts
Platform(s)MS-DOS, PlayStation, Saturn
ReleaseMS-DOS
PlayStation
Saturn
  • WW: July 1997
Genre(s)Space combat simulator
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Darklight Conflict is a space combat simulator video game developed by Rage Software[3] and published by Electronic Arts in 1997 for the MS-DOS, and the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation game consoles. Players take on the part of a contemporary human fighter pilot abducted by the alien Repton species during an aerial battle, and biologically modified to become a starfighter pilot for them in their war against the Evil Ovon race.

Gameplay

Cockpit view (DOS version)

The player pilots one of three different starfighters, each with different strengths and weaknesses, and occasionally a captured enemy ship, or controlling a gun turret on the Mothership (The "War Drum"). The missions include simple combat, defending the mothership, destroying an enemy Ovon mothership, clearing an asteroid field, and retrieving an object with a tractor beam. The player's ship moves between mission areas via "hyperspace portals", passing through a hyper-space environment, resembling that seen in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Often during hyperspace transit, varying streams of energy are encountered; gold energy replenishes the energy which fuels the ship, while blue energy drains it, reducing the ship's effectiveness.[4]

Darklight Conflict has several multiplayer modes, including deathmatch, team battles, and space combat variations of tag and capture the flag.[3]

Plot

After the player character completes the four campaigns and destroys the Ovon home-world for the Reptons, the Reptons send their best pilots to kill the player character. The player character escapes and jumps to Earth, where centuries have passed since the player character left. The ship is greeted by the Earth Defense Fleet, which destroys all Repton ships in hot pursuit.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings67% (PS)[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar (PS)[8]
StarStarStar (PC)[9]
EGM6.125/10 (PS)[5]
Next GenerationStarStar (PS)[6]
PC PowerPlay89% (PC)[11]
Sega Saturn Magazine86% (SAT)[7]

Reviewing the MS-DOS version in GameSpot, Greg Kasavin commented, "Darklight Conflict packs a lot of action between its campaign, arcade, and six-player network modes, so it'll keep you occupied for a long, long time. And you can bet you'll be gawking at its visuals all the while." He lauded the peripheral vision afforded by the game's letterboxed display, the high frame rate, the special weapons, the targeting system, the quantity and variety of missions, the sleek rendering of the spaceships, the explosion and lighting effects, and the moody soundtrack. He considered the absence of licensing to be the only flaw, saying the unfamiliarity of the spacecraft makes them harder to get used to and less immediately appealing.[12]

The console versions received a mix of critical reactions, with the one commonality being praise for the lighting effects.[5][13][6][7][14] Electronic Gaming Monthly's Dan Hsu and Next Generation said the graphics in general are superior to those of the game's closest competitor, the PlayStation version of Wing Commander IV,[5][6] though the Next Generation reviewer added that they still come as a disappointment compared to the PC version of Darklight Conflict.[6] He and EGM's Crispin Boyer and Sushi-X found the oversensitive controls with no support for analog controllers to be an annoyance which greatly aggravates the already frustrating difficulty; Boyer elaborated that "you're forced to tap, tap, tap until you're on target."[5][6] GamePro, however, contended that "The control is a bit twitchy at first, but is very solid once you get used to it."[14]

Critics also disagreed about the game's lack of story. Both Sushi-X and Jeff Gerstmann praised this element as enabling better enjoyment of the gameplay, and characterized Wing Commander IV's extensive cutscenes as fluff,[5][13] while Dan Hsu and Next Generation both felt it hurt the game.[5][6] Next Generation reasoned, "As excessive and ungameplay-focused as the FMV sequences in Wing Commander IV are, at least they give the player a face to identify with, and maybe even an emotional connection. Darklight Conflict's generic polygonal spaceships offer nothing to involve even the most hyperimaginative."[6]

Critics differed most sharply over the quality of the missions. Boyer, Hsu, and Next Generation all argued that despite the varying objectives, the missions all boil down to the same requisite skills, making for an extremely repetitive gaming experience.[5][6] In contrast, GamePro and Sega Saturn Magazine praised the variety afforded by the missions, with SSM adding that "the action continues all the way through with some complex and well designed duties".[7][14]

References

  1. ↑ Staff (March 26, 1997). "Even More Games Shipping". Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980218070742/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-03-24.html. Retrieved December 5, 2019. 
    " Electronic Arts has begun shipping...Darklight Conflict..."
  2. ↑ "Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com". http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html#1995. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NG Alphas: Darklight Conflict". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (28): 108. April 1997. 
  4. ↑ "Preview: Darklight Conflict". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (21): 28. July 1997. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 "Review Crew: Darklight Conflict". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (98): 54. September 1997. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 "Finals: Darklight Conflict". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (34): 169. October 1997. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Cutlack, Gary (August 1997). "Review: Darklight Conflict". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (22): 76–77. https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_022/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_022_-_august_1997_UK#page/n76/mode/2up. Retrieved November 25, 2018. 
  8. ↑ "Darklight Conflict (Playstation) Review". http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2079&tab=review. 
  9. ↑ "Darklight Conflict (PC) Review". http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5458&tab=review. 
  10. ↑ "Darklight Conflict for Playstation". http://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197055-darklight-conflict/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Sharpe, Peter (July 1997). "Darklight Conflict". PC PowerPlay (14): 54–55. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-014-1997-07/page/n71/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSPC
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSPS
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 The Rookie (October 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Darklight Conflict". GamePro (IDG) (109): 145. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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